British Bachelor: A Hero Club Novel

by K. K. Allen

He twisted his lips. “I’m afraid I left the job description at my flat. If you’d like to join me, I’d be more than happy to go over the details in private.”

  With a soft laugh, I darted a glance at the cameras that were only a few feet away now. Smiling, I turned back to Liam and bit down on my lip. “Considering this will probably be an intense negotiation, that would probably be best.”

  He set me down and clutched my hand, keeping me close as he pulled me toward the exit. Off we went, past the cameras, past the crowd, and not stopping until we reached his flat in Kensington, not too far from my hotel.

  It was dark when we entered his apartment, and he didn’t bother turning on a light before tugging me down the narrow hallway and through the double doors that led to his bedroom. We’d made out for the entire ride here, and my mind was still spinning from the high of it all. But from what I could see, his flat had a pristine nature that seemed to suit him well—with white walls, black accents, and natural wood grain surfaces. It was intriguing to see the way he lived since I’d only seen him outside of his natural habitat.

  “What are you looking at?” Liam asked while unbuttoning his shirt.

  “I realized that I’ve never seen you in your element. This place suits you.” I replaced his busy fingers with my own, more than happy to undress the man who’d just professed his love to me in front of the entire world.

  “That’s nice, love, but I won’t be here long.”

  I smiled, my heart quickening in my chest. “Got plans to move somewhere?”

  His fingers slipped up my tank top to my bra and brushed over my nipple. “I hear Providence is nice, and the women are bloody fantastic.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” I said, slipping his shirt off him and tossing it to the side. I reached for his pants next. “Why don’t you tell me more about this job offer?”

  He lifted my tank top over my head and tossed it into a pile with his shirt. “Well,” he said, slamming my hips to his, where I could feel him. “It’s definitely going to be hard work.”

  I slipped my hand between us and wrapped my fingers around his dick. Sadly, it was still covered. That didn’t stop me from feeling how hard he was. “So, you’re looking for the right fit?”

  His lips curled into a smile as his fingers dipped into the waistband of my skirt and started to pull it down. My skirt fell, and I kicked it away.

  “Definitely,” he said. “However, I’m willing to work with you for as long as it takes to ensure a smooth transition.”

  A laugh slipped past my throat, unable to help myself. He was so British, and so damn adorable, I couldn’t take it anymore. “You sound like you’re very hands-on with your employees. That’s impressive.” I squeezed his length one more time for good measure before pushing his pants and underwear down to the floor, leaving him bare before me.

  Liam released my bra next, his smile widening. “I do enjoy getting the job done, Miss Banks.” He stepped forward and pushed me onto the bed, then pressed a knee on the mattress between my thighs. “Giving back to my employees is something I like to think I do very well.” Then he leaned over my breast and took a swipe of my nipple with his tongue. “Especially when they taste like you.” He proceeded to trail kisses down my breast, over my rib cage, and down my waist—but when he got to the line of my underwear, he froze. “Bloody fucking hell, you didn’t.”

  I bit down on my lip to keep from bursting with laughter, loving his reaction to my new tattoo. “I did.”

  He was careful to pull my panties down over my hips, then he was examining me like I was newfound treasure. “It looks amazing. When did you do this?”

  “The day before I decided to come here. It’s still healing.”

  “It’s perfect,” he said, still staring at it, his mouth slack. Then he looked up, his eyes glistening in the soft light that came from the streetlamp outside his window. “You’re perfect.”

  He crawled up my body and pressed his lips to mine. “I love you. And I’m not just saying that because I thought I was going to lose you. I started falling for you almost immediately. It was the scariest feeling in my life. For the first time, I feel like someone sees me for everything I aim to be in this life. You believe in me.”

  With all the crying I’d done over the past few days, I would have thought that I was all out of tears. Liam’s words were the sweetest and most genuine words I could ever have hoped to hear. “Of course I believe in you, and you believe in me. Everything you said is exactly why I love you too. I’ll always be your biggest fan.”

  His nose touched mine before he kissed me again and sighed. “And I’ll always be yours.”

  He nudged my entrance, warning me only a second before pushing inside me, slowly, just like he’d promised. I focused on my breathing as he worked his way deeper, and I embraced the way my body spread just for him, like it had prepared for his arrival.

  He’d gone as deep as he could go, and his thrusts started immediately after. “God, you feel so good,” he growled, and his mouth fell to my neck. “I missed this. The way we fit is so bloody perfect.”

  His pace quickened with every rock of his body, and I knew that this fuck wouldn’t be as gentle as our previous encounters. He’d missed me, and he was about to show me how much.

  He flipped me on my side and entered me from behind with one hand finding my clit. He worked me from both angles, circling his finger over my sensitive bud while ramming me with his cock. It was a matter of seconds before I reached climax.

  I cried out in warning, and he responded by grabbing my chin and twisting my head until his lips could reach mine. “Come for me, Chelsea. I need to feel you.”

  We only kissed a second before my orgasm hit me hard. I cried into his mouth, causing him to fuck me harder, not stopping until his juices were pumping inside of me, filling me to the brink.

  When he flipped me onto my back, I was breathing heavily at the intensity of what had just gone down. Liam had never fucked me like that before, and I liked it a little too much. “Your job offer was phenomenal,” I said while we chuckled.

  “I do hope you’ll accept the long-term position.” He moved to hover over me, his mouth just an inch from mine. Then he brushed a thumb against my cheek and smiled. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

  I smiled, ready to end the negotiations. “I accept.”

  Epilogue

  Liam, 12 months later

  Moving day, a day I had always viewed with contempt until today. I had been renting a flat in Providence for the past year, and before that I’d hopped around from flat to flat for years without ever feeling settled. After closing on my first house only a block away from the Hogues’, I finally felt like I’d found home.

  Admittedly, the location choice was a strategic move on my part to get Chelsea to move in with me. She only agreed on the condition that Simon and Bridget would keep her employed if she lived off-property. As much as they would have loved for Chelsea to stay close, they agreed that they would rather deal with the short distance if they could keep her. So, Chelsea and I were officially going to be roommates.

  Between the two of us, we didn’t have many possessions. One trip in the moving truck carried her bed, couch, television, clothes, record player, and several miscellaneous boxes of household items—most of them books that she had never been able to display with such a small shelf. Whatever we didn’t have, we would shop for.

  While Chelsea watched the twins all day, I took care of the move with Simon’s help. I could afford the day off from the tattoo shop. I’d started leasing the suite in Wayland Square a few months ago, and the renovations were nearly done. I’d taken an assistant coaching position at one of the local high schools too. It wasn’t what I’d been planning or expecting, but when the position became available, and I saw that it was part-time, and seasonal only, I went for it without hesitation.

  Life was good, better than good, and today signaled yet another milestone in my life with Chelsea. Starting with my plan t
o have as much as possible in its place by the time Chelsea arrived. I had one more surprise for her.

  After a quick shower, I threw on clean sweatpants and started to make dinner. One thing that had surprised Chelsea over the past year had been my skills in the kitchen. My Italian dishes were her favorite by far. I could tell because she always made moaning sounds that reminded me of her orgasms when she ate them. And then I’d eat her.

  She was scheduled to arrive home the same moment I popped dinner in the oven and set the timer. For a final touch, I set out two glasses of her favorite red wine, lit a few candles, and started The 1975’s album on her record player.

  Almost as soon as I finished setting up, I heard the jostle of the doorknob and jogged to greet her, swinging the door open in a grand flourish.

  “Welcome home, love.”

  She was all smiles, that pretty pink flush filling her cheeks and her thick hair tossed up in a crazy bun from playing with toddlers all day. “Oh my God, it smells amazing in here. You moved and you cooked?”

  She walked right into my welcoming arms, her eyes busily scanning the space around me.

  “That’s right,” I said. “You can help me fill in the blanks, but I think I did a pretty good job—with Simon’s help, of course.”

  “We’re definitely going to need to work on filling the blanks.” She laughed and looked back at me with a tilt of her head. “I’m happy to help with that.”

  The home I’d ended up buying was definitely bigger than what Chelsea and I needed, but I’d fallen in love with the idea of everything it could be and more. Four bedrooms, three baths, a loft, a large kitchen with a spacious living room, and an office for Chelsea to write in. One day, we would fill it all.

  She pulled me in for a kiss with so much passion behind it that I could feel it in my chest. Every day with Chelsea only made me more grateful for our awkward beginning. Before her, I didn’t believe in soul mates or “the one,” but every single day proved just how naive I’d been about love. Chelsea and I were the real deal. Forever. And I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.

  When we pulled apart, I squeezed her waist. “Ready to see the house? Don’t worry. I left the decorating up to you.” I winked.

  Chelsea jumped excitedly. “Yes. I can’t wait.”

  I took her through the living room and kitchen, then showed her the den where I imagined her spending her days. She still hadn’t decided what she wanted to do with the space, but I often caught her looking for inspiration online.

  The tour was quick, considering there wasn’t much to see, but I figured the last room I showed her would take the most time anyway. When we reached the door to the largest guest room, I stopped and stood in front of it, my heart racing. “You can consider what’s in this room a welcome home present.” I smiled, barely able to contain my excitement. I’d been planning this for months, and without Simon’s help, there was no way I could have had it ready today.

  Her eyes were wide, clearly already surprised. “What? You didn’t tell me you were getting me a present.”

  I bit down on my lip before pushing open the door behind me. “I hope you like it.”

  She looked past me into the room, and I would never forget her reaction. It was better than the feeling of purchasing our new home. Her eyes flew open. Her hands rushed to her face, and she gasped so loud, my throat instantly clogged with emotion. It seemed she liked it.

  She stepped into the room, scanning one wall at a time like she still couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Wall-to-wall white bookshelves lined the room, and the books I’d unpacked from her boxes took up one complete wall. She turned to the next wall, which was empty, and she shook her head as a tear fell onto her cheek.

  “Liam, this is—”

  “Too much? Perfect? What, love?”

  “It’s all the things. It’s a dream. There’s even a ladder,” she said with a shocked cry. “Oh my gosh, Liam, this is too much. And here I bought you a cactus.”

  I came up behind her, chuckling, and wrapped my arms around her waist. I pressed my mouth to her ear. “One day you can fill the shelves with all of your books.”

  She looked at me over her shoulder and held my face while she kissed me. “I couldn’t love you more than I already do, but this is an incredible gift. Thank you.”

  I kissed her cheek and moved back to her ear, my heart hammering away at the last of my surprise. “There’s one more thing.” I turned her to face the final wall.

  “What is—” She paused midquestion as she took in exactly what she was seeing.

  Hundreds of copies of her second published book sat on the shelves with their spines facing out. I’d arranged them in the shape of a phrase that I imagined she’d finally made sense of when her body started to shake.

  WILL

  YOU

  MARRY

  ME?

  She turned to find me kneeling before her, extending my hand that held a small black velvet box.

  “Chelsea,” I started, hoping to God that I could make it through my speech without completely losing it. “Every moment with you has been one I will cherish forever. From that first glance in Spill the Tea to the cactus that put you in my arms on the same day I found your porn collection—”

  She laughed, her eyes flooding with tears that fell down her cheeks at a rapid rate.

  “And then our visit to the tattoo shop that started your new addiction, our first kiss downtown while the flames of our love burned all around us.”

  She rolled her eyes, still laughing and crying, and I knew my speech was crap, but I wasn’t done.

  “You are my best friend, the love of my life, and my soul mate for eternity. Will you put me out of my misery and spend your life with me? Marry me, Chelsea Banks.”

  She was nodding viciously before I even finished my sentence, then she threw herself into my arms, her tears blending with mine as she kissed me.

  “Yes, Liam.” Her words were choked when she finally said them. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you so much.”

  I kissed her again, my heart feeling like it was about to burst in my chest. “I promise to always try to make you happy.”

  “You don’t have to try.” She shook her head and leaned it against mine. “We fit for a reason, Liam. Because we’re better together just being ourselves, and I’ll love you forever.” She looked back at the shelf and shook her head with a laugh. “This is incredible.” Then she turned back to me. “I just have one question.”

  “What is it, love?”

  She tilted her head. “Why did you choose my second book and not my first?”

  I grinned. “You can’t guess?”

  “Because it was inspired by our love story?” she asked.

  “That’s right, love. And—” I waggled my brows. “Willy and Sally’s story may have ended, but ours will last forever.”

  Want to keep up with all the new releases in Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club world? Make sure you sign up for the official Cocky Hero Club newsletter for all the latest on upcoming books:

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  Check out other books in the Cocky Hero Club series:

  http://www.cockyheroclub.com

  Thank you so much for reading British Bachelor. If you’re a fan of steamy romance stories with unexpected depth just like this one, then you will love my A Stolen Melody Duet. Keep reading for an excerpt from book one, Dangerous Hearts, or grab it HERE free with Kindle Unlimited.

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  Acknowledgments

  Sometimes there are stories that are so much fun they pour out of me effortlessly. British Bachelor was that book for me this year. If you follow me on social media, then you’ll know, I’m a die-hard Bachelor franchise fan. The Bachelor, combined with my deep love for Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland’s story, British Bedmate, played a huge role in the inspiration that went in to bringing Liam and Chelsea’s story to life.

  Thank you, Penelope and Vi, for giving me this opportunity to write in your Cocky Hero Club world. I’m honored to be part of this series, and I will continue to be a huge fan of your stories.

  Harloe Rae! My boo. I had a ridiculous amount of fun writing in tandem with you every single day. I can’t wait for the romance world to get their hands on Left for Wild. You are pure magic and I love you.

  I think my Alpha team #BossBabes almost had more fun reading than I did writing this story, haha. I couldn’t have done it without you babes. Sammie, Cyndi, Richard, and Renee. Adore you all so much. And a special shout out to my handsome British gent, Richard, who read over British Bachelor TWICE to make sure Liam was as authentic as possible. You are the best.

  Once again, my #BetaBabes came in and ensured that I didn’t muck anything up for Chelsea and Liam’s story. Thank you so much Brenna, Patricia, Christine, and Kelly. Your highlights, honest critiques, and encouraging words were everything!

  Thank you to my editors and proofreaders at Red Adept. I can always count on your team to bring me thorough edits to help strengthen my stories. Special thanks to Lynn, Taylor, and Amanda for all of your hard work and sweet words.